Recognizing the 100th Birthday of Gene Maurece Harper

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 100th birthday of Gene Maurece Harper.

Gene was born April 10, 1923, in Ontario, California. He grew up in Ontario and graduated from Chaffey High School. Just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, Gene had enrolled at Chaffey Junior College. Rather than staying to finish school, Gene felt called to serve and enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Beginning in June 1943, at 20 years old, he served aboard the LST 952 during World War II and was sent to sea in November 1944. On April 1, 1945, his ship sent Marines into Okinawa, Japan where they took Yontan Airfield, which served as an important victory for the United States. After the war, Gene completed his bachelor's degree at Colorado State University. He returned to Ontario, California and worked for the County of San Bernardino as an Entomologist, a scientist who studies insects. Eventually, he became the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture for the county. He and his wife, Ndala Grace Hall, have been happily married for 67 years. The couple have 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandsons.

On behalf of the 35th Congressional District, I congratulate Gene on this incredible milestone. It is my honor to represent courageous people like him. I am grateful for his service to this county. I hope that he enjoys much happiness in the coming year.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source